Bogalusa School Board

Bogalusa, Louisiana

Special Board Meeting

June 20, 2011

5:30P.M.

Proceedings Of The Bogalusa School Board Taken At A Special Board Meeting That Was Held On Monday, June 20, 2011

The Bogalusa School Board met in a special session at the Bogalusa School Board Office, in the Media Center, located at 1705 Sullivan Drive, Bogalusa, Louisiana on Monday, June 20, 2011, beginning at 5:30P.M. The sole purpose of the meeting was to conduct a candidate interview with Mrs. Louise Smith utilizing the process for selection of a Superintendent for Bogalusa City Schools, set forth by McPherson & Jacobson Consulting Firm.  The agenda included an Executive Session.

1.)        Call to Order

President Paul Kates called the meeting to order at 5:30P.M.

2.)        Pledge of Allegiance

President Kates led the Pledge of Allegiance.

3.)        Prayer

Reverend Raymond Mims delivered the opening prayer.

4.)        Roll Call

There were present:  President Mr. Paul Kates; Vice President Mr. Adam Kemp; Members:  Mr. Curtis Creel, Mrs. Eleanor Duke, Mr. Calvin Hymel, Reverend Raymond Mims and Dr. Brad Williams

There was absent:  None

Prior to the Executive Session, President Kates stated, "Mrs. Smith we will start off; and our first question that we will ask every candidate that we interview; we’re going to ask you this first question in public.  We don’t have the media here but we will proceed in this manner.  Mrs. Smith, tell us about yourself and why you want to be Superintendent of Bogalusa City School System?  After you answer that question, we will go into the Executive Session," concluded President Kates.

Response from Mrs. Louise Smith-”I am a wife; a mother; a grandmother; and an educator.  All of those rolls are very important to me; but tonight I am here to talk about my role as an educator.  I have a Bachelors Degree in Sociology and Social Work/Social Studies. I have a Masters Degree in Special Education; Gifted Education from the University of Southern Mississippi.  I have a Specialist Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi. I have completed all the work for a Doctoral Degree in Educational Administration; except for the dissertation; and that’s been in process for several years; and I doubt I will complete that; I have that in reserve if I do decide to do that; but I have served lots of different positions in our school district.  I have been a teacher.  I have been a Principal.  I have been a Federal Programs Coordinator.  I have worked in the Central Office as a District Administrator; and I have also; in working with these positions, I have also worked with several other positions; in that I have been an Athletic Director in the school system.  I have been a Safety & Drug-Free School Coordinator; I am still the Safety & Drug-Free School coordinator. I have served as a Loss Control Coordinator, by that I’ve completed the training process. I write grants and administer all different types of grant programs. I’ve served as a Technology Coordinator; I do not do that any more.  I have also served as Staff Development Coordinator and District Test Coordinator.  I have held a lot of positions in our schools.”

”I feel like I am qualified to be a Superintendent. It has always been one of my goals to be a Superintendent; in fact I interviewed with you the last time this position was open. I feel like the demographic of Poplarville and Bogalusa are very similar.  I have done some research on your system and I feel like I am very qualified to lead your district and to help improve some of the conditions in your schools,” concluded Mrs. Smith.

At this point President Kates thanked Mrs. Smith and stated, ”At this time I would like to get a motion to go into Executive Session.”

5.)        New Business

It was motioned by Dr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Hymel to enter into an Executive Session.  The motion was carried unanimously.

A.)        Executive Session-Superintendent Candidate Interview- Mrs. Louise Smith

Returning to the Media Center, President Kates stated, ”Coming back from Executive Session I need a motion.”

It was motion by Reverend Mims, seconded by Vice President Kemp to resume the special session.  The motion was carried unanimously.

Statement from President Kates-”We’ve just completed our interview with our first candidate, Louise Smith.  The meeting is adjourned.”

6.)        Adjourn

There being no further business to address, President Kates adjourned at 6:58P.M.

_______________________________________                _______________________________________

Stephanie Hoppen                                                                          Paul D. Kates

Secretary to the Board                                                                   Board President